SALT LAKE CITY, UTAH - Industry ally ReposiTrak is continuing to grow its ReposiTrak Traceability Network® (RTN), welcoming hundreds of new retailers and suppliers to the platform. An undisclosed retailer will now optimize the company’s comprehensive inventory management and out-of-stock reduction SaaS platform to collect and store FDA-required Key Data Elements (KDEs) from its suppliers ahead of the January 2026 deadline.

“The ReposiTrak Traceability Network enables full compliance with FSMA 204 regulations through automation, while enabling traceability for any product, even those that fall outside of the FDA’s Food Traceability List,” said Randy Fields, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer of ReposiTrak. “For our vast network of suppliers, retailers, and wholesalers, we simplify the process, saving time and resources for all involved.”

As a press release detailed, the retailer’s suppliers are also joining RTN, increasing the network’s footprint in the retail grocery sector and further solidifying its role in enhancing traceability and food safety on a global scale. These suppliers will not only be able to transmit KDEs to ReposiTrak’s newest partner but all other in-network retailers and wholesalers at no additional cost.

RTN is free for retailers and wholesalers. Suppliers pay a nominal, per-facility fee to connect to the company’s in-network customers, with no need for additional hardware or software. The ReposiTrak team assists in making the connections needed to create the complete KDE Records required under the FSMA 204 food traceability law, the release stated.

As this traceability network continues to grow, keep reading the latest updates from ANUK.

WASHINGTON, DC - Just this past Monday, Partnership for a Healthier America (PHA) and the International Fresh Produce Association’s Foundation for Fresh Produce co-hosted the first-ever Produce for All Leadership Summit. This invite-only event gathered 130 leaders from across sectors to share knowledge and create an actionable plan to double produce consumption in communities around the United States.

"One of my heroes, Margaret Mead, once remarked about how a small, thoughtful group of individuals can change the world. The Produce for All Leadership Summit united leaders from across many disciplines and industries to focus on the singular goal of doubling consumption of fresh fruits and vegetables in communities throughout the nation," said Cathy Burns, Chief Executive Officer of the International Fresh Produce Association. "I am confident the strategic and creative approaches discussed will take root in new programs and interventions that will ultimately improve health outcomes and reduce the incidences of diet-related disease in the years ahead. Thank you to all who participated and will embark on this mission with us."

The event began with a keynote from farmer and food justice activist Karen Washington before hearing from Cindy Long, Administrator at the USDA Food and Nutrition Service. They then listened to a panel moderated by Dr. Caree Cotwright, Director of Nutrition Security and Health Equity at the USDA, and a group of panelists focused on the work already underway to double produce consumption in 15 cities by 2030.

For a deeper dive into the event’s takeaways, click here.

“There are many causes of food and nutrition insecurity, but one thing that’s clear is that it’s not because of a lack of nutritious food—it’s about ensuring that everyone, in every zip code in America, has the same access to that nutritious food,” said Noreen Springstead, President and CEO of PHA. “I’m inspired by the commitment and collaboration I saw today around addressing those barriers to access that too many communities face. Together, we are demonstrating the power of produce and what it can do to lift up communities and improve the health of Americans across the country.”

Keep reading us here at ANUK for more insights across the fresh produce sector.

LA CAÑADA FLINTRIDGE, CA - More exciting leadership news has come down the pike from Allen Lund Company. The transportation provider has announced the promotion of Zach Griebling to General Manager of the ALC Boise office.

"I am incredibly thankful for the opportunity to start as the General Manager in Boise,” commented Griebling. “I want to extend my heartfelt thanks to the executive team, Brodie, and the entire Denver team for their unwavering support; this achievement would not be possible without you. After spending a week in the Boise office, I was impressed with their strong work ethic and how natural their relationships are with both customers and carriers. I look forward to continuing to grow and lead such a strong team!"

Griebling previously served as the Assistant General Manager of the Denver office. According to a press release, he began his tenure with ALC as an intern in 2016, working his way up to Operations Manager and then Assistant GM.

Griebling fills the ALC Boise role left open with the transfer of Zach Anderson to GM of ALC Kansas City.

“Congratulations to Zach Griebling on his promotion to Boise GM! He has worked very hard throughout the progression of his career with ALC, and his skills and talents have paved this path for him,” Tracey Lewin, Vice President of Sales and Operations, stated. “I'm very excited to see the future of the Boise office with Zach at the helm and I look forward to working closer with him as he takes the reins. I'd like to thank Zach Anderson for developing such a strong and capable team during his tenure as the Boise GM, the Boise team for welcoming Zach G. with open arms, and I'd also like to thank Brodie Donaldson for all the coaching and development he provided to Zach Griebling which prepared him so well for this promotion."

Donaldson, ALC Denver General Manager, also commented on Griebling’s promotion.

"The Denver team and I will forever be thankful for Zach's hard work and dedication over the past eight years. Being a part of his growth is humbling, and his roots will be long-lasting. He's truly a testament to what someone can do with ALC from an internship to GM,” he said. “Zach is truly passionate about pushing the limits of brokerage, and he remains unwavering in the face of challenges. He takes a calculated but head-on approach, always following the Customer-Company-Office decision tree. While we will miss him in Denver, we are excited for Zach's next chapter."

Congratulations to Griebling on this exciting next step in his career!

SALINAS, CA - Get your summer berries here! Naturipe Farms announced that it has a bounty of strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, and blackberries to fill all summer berry programs—and make sure consumers have the berries they desire for their summer outings.

“There’s nothing more refreshing after being in the heat than to come inside, reach into the fridge, and pop a few fresh, juicy berries in your mouth,” says Jim Roberts, President of Sales. "Our commitment to quality ensures that no matter which of our elite growers your berries come from, retailers can confidently stock their shelves with the best berries on the market."

After decades spent developing its varieties, Naturipe is able to offer its retail partners an appealing fruit with a longer shelf-life.

Conventional and organic berry packs will be at their peak quality and value starting this week, a press release noted, and will last through the end of August.

To double down on the summer promotional atmosphere, Naturipe encourages retailers to take part in its Make a Splash with Naturipe Berries summer promotion. With a first-ever summer berry in-store campaign and contest, retailers can showcase how Naturipe Berries fit into any family’s summer plans.

Sounds like you know who to call for that upcoming berry display!

ST. ANTIGO, WI - As a prominent and experienced player in the produce packaging industry, Volm Companies continues to sharpen its strengths in both innovation and sustainability. Part of this is driven by engaging in critical industry discussions, like those that recently took place at the International Sustainability Summit in Vancouver, British Columbia. Reflecting on the critically important event, Volm’s Sustainability Manager Leah Lex shared some key takeaways from the summit.

“When it comes to sustainability, progress can sometimes take two steps forward, one step back,” Lex wrote in a release. “There are many reasons for this—and many competing views. However, there is widespread agreement that the important work our industry is doing must not only continue but also accelerate. Given Volm’s ongoing efforts to prioritize sustainable options, we took a keen interest in the summit discussions. And while some of our beliefs were reinforced at these meetings, we also learned several things.”

The packaging innovator’s list of takeaways from the event included:

• Sustainability is good business—and good business is sustainable. Everyone who plays a role in the fresh produce industry has a responsibility to create and execute an ambitious sustainability strategy.
• Collaboration must trump competition—no exceptions. Making progress on sustainability is not a solo mission, but a collaborative effort where everyone in the industry must work together.
• Sustainability is not a sprint, but a journey. Change needs to happen strategically, collaboratively, and continuously.
• The industry deserves a set of universal standards. Packaging standards need to apply to everyone and they need to be applicable everywhere.
• Innovation doesn’t always mean reinventing the wheel.

“Critical change is continuing to happen at the individual business level. At Volm, we take tremendous pride in doing our part,” Lex continued. “In fact, we continue to accelerate progress toward our goals so that we continue to be an industry leader. All of this is important work, but it’s also only the beginning. As we continue to make more and more progress, it’s critical that we keep our learnings in mind so that we stay on track. After all, making change is not only about working hard—but also working together.”

Dive into a full breakdown of these event takeaways here.

As our industry pushes further toward advancement in each of these areas, ANUK will be here to report.

WASHINGTON, DC - Table grape experts are needed in key seats for everything from regulations to category promotion. The entirety of the California Desert Grape Administrative Committee must elect every four years, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture (USDA), and nominations are now underway.

Selected members will serve a four-year term beginning January 1, 2025, with the following Committee positions up for nomination now:

• Four producer member seats
• Four handler member seats
• One producer or handler member seat
• One public member seat
• 10 alternate member seats corresponding to each position

With an opportunity to influence many aspects of the category, the marketing order authorizes grade, size, maturity, and quality regulations to maintain table grape quality shipped to consumers; establishes production research and development projects designed to assist, improve, or promote the marketing, distribution, consumption, or production of grapes; and authorizes regulations on the size, capacity, and weight of the containers used to ship table grapes to market, according to the USDA website.

Eligible nominees for producer member positions must be producers of grapes for the fresh market or officers or employees of producers, per a press release. Likewise, eligible nominees for handler member positions must be handlers or officers or employees of handlers.

Both the public member and alternate will be nominated at the first meeting of the newly seated Committee come January.

For more information on the committee, contacts, and nominations for an available seat, click here.

Wishing the best of luck to candidates in this dynamic category of our industry!

WASHINGTON, DC - Imports are forecasted to rise 2.5–3.5 percent over 2023, with global spending up and U.S. monthly inbound cargo volume expected to see its highest level in two years this summer.

“Consumers are continuing to spend more than last year, and retailers are stocking up to meet demand, especially as we head into peak shipping season,” National Retail Federation (NRF) Vice President for Supply Chain and Customs Policy Jonathan Gold said. The Federation, with Hackett Associates, released a Global Port Tracker forecasting 2024 core retail sales, excluding restaurants, gas stations, and auto dealers. “The high level of imports expected over the next several months is an encouraging sign that retailers are confident in strong sales throughout the remainder of the year. Unfortunately, retailers are also facing supply chain challenges again, this time with congestion at overseas ports that are affecting operations and shipping rates.”

Global Port Tracker, according to a press release, provides historical data and forecasts for several U.S. ports, including:

• Los Angeles/Long Beach, CA
• Oakland, CA
• Seattle, WA
• Tacoma, WA
• New York/New Jersey
• Virginia
• Charleston, SC
• Savannah, GA
• Port Everglades, FL
• Miami, FL
• Jacksonville, FL
• Houston, TX

“Imports of containerized goods at U.S. ports are booming, with particularly strong growth on the West Coast,” Hackett Associates Founder Ben Hackett said. “In the last couple of years, we have witnessed a flattened peak season that has stretched out the volume of imports over extra months versus the strong, consolidated surge seen in the past. Reasons range from retailers restocking following strong sales after the pandemic to trying to get ahead of increased tariffs on goods from China set to take effect in August and ensuring sufficient inventories for the holiday season amid strong consumer demand.”

An expected seven-month string of import levels above 2 million Twenty-Foot Equivalent Units—a level reached only twice since October 2022—is partly due to changes in the annual peak season for shipping, Hackett explained.

The complete report, free to NRF retail members, can be seen here.

As the numbers continue to roll in for all potential influencers of our industry, AndNowUKnow will report the latest.

NEW ZEALAND - As it continues to invest in the innovation necessary to keep our industry moving forward, Zespri has announced the first pilots from its new innovation fund, ZAG. These pilots will focus on the color of RubyRed kiwifruit, kiwifruit bin tracking, and biochar use in kiwifruit orchards.

“The RubyRed, bin tracking, and biochar initiatives have been selected to help us solve some of the specific challenges the industry is facing, and which benefit our industry, the wellbeing of our communities, and our planet. We’re looking forward to seeing the results of our pilots as we work to find solutions to help shape a thriving world through the goodness of kiwifruit,” commented Chief Marketing, Innovation, and Sustainability Officer Jiunn Shih.

ZAG is a $2 million (USD) annual fund that launched late last year. According to a press release, it is designed to address some of the key challenges the industry faces as Zespri continues to meet the growing demand for kiwifruit.

An Innovation Steering Committee chaired by Shih has been evaluating ideas submitted by prospective solution providers. The first solution selected to move into the pilot phase was the evaluation of color consistency of RubyRed Kiwifruit. The second pilot centered around improving the traceability of kiwifruit harvest bins with GPS devices. Pilot three involved a 12-month field trial of biochar on kiwifruit orchards.

The purpose of this new innovation fund is to Zespri a chance to accelerate its Research & Development (R&D) and broaden its ability to collaborate with global innovators.

For more information, click here.

AndNowUKnow will be back tomorrow morning with the latest updates across the industry.